Ashes 2019 | Day 2 Talking Points - Nathan Lyon's lackluster outing and Rory Burns' Royal Ashes debut

Peter Siddle justifies his selection over Mitchell Starc

The Australian camp dropped a huge selection bombshell on Thursday as they broke the news of dropping Mitchell Starc, who was coming on the back of a record-breaking World Cup. It was revealed that he would be replaced by the 34-year-old Peter Siddle, and unsurprisingly, the news didn’t go down well with the majority of the fans and ex-cricketers, who were visibly fuming with the decision. 

Skipper Tim Paine threw the Victorian the ball in the 12th over, and right from ball one, the veteran pacer was on the money, not giving the English batsmen anything to work with. According to Cricviz, prior to lunch, 72% of the balls Siddle bowled were on a good length, probing the line outside off-stump on a consistent basis. In an astonishing display of endurance, the 34-year-old bowled two six-over spells, all but proving that age is merely a number.

While Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, and Nathan Lyon struggled for consistency - often delivering bad balls, Siddle stuck to his guns throughout the entirety of the day, conceding at just more than two an over. The Victorian finally got his reward after 78 deliveries in the form of Joe Root, but in the process, he ensured that he taught a lesson to his fellow compatriots on consistency, while also shutting down the critics by justifying his selection over Starc. 

Siddle, who was picked on the back of an outstanding campaign with Essex where he picked 34 wickets at 20 a piece, knew exactly what his role was, and produced a masterclass in consistency. Perhaps it is not surprising that the Victorian duo of Siddle and Pattinson - the Dukes ball specialists of the team - ended up being the standout bowlers.

Rory Burns overcomes his demons to torment the Aussies

Coming into the match with a Test average of 22 and two single-digit scores against Ireland, Rory Burns’ place was under unimaginable threat, and a failure in this match might have very well seen him follow the footsteps of his predecessors Mark Stoneman, Sam Robson, and Adam Lyth. However, that wasn’t to be, and while his partner from Surrey threw his wicket away, Burns ensured that he put the utmost value on his wicket and respected the bowlers, while also putting the bad balls away. 

In Cricket, the most subtle of adjustments can make a mountain of difference, and today, a minute change made by Burns - the decision to consciously play the ball late and close to the stumps, paid dividends, as the 28-year-old raced his way to his maiden century. According to Cricviz, the Surrey opener played all but one delivery 2.5 m away from his stumps, completely rectifying the mistake he committed in his previous matches - the tendency to often prod forward, fending for the ball. 

Moreover, Burns took a more proactive approach in this innings, being extremely decisive on what to attack and what to let go. His tally of 16 boundaries speaks volumes about how he went about his business in dealing with his worst nemesis, the delivery on the fourth stump line, and his score of 125* is also the highest by any English opener not named Alastair Cook in home conditions in the last three years. 

First Steve Smith, and now Burns, have proved that you don’t need to look pretty to the naked eye, and all that’s needed to succeed is patience, self-belief, grit, and determination. 

Nathan Lyon’s hot-and-cold outing hurts Australia

Coming into the encounter as the highest wicket-taking spinner in the last two years and having made a significant impact in the last Ashes, much was expected from Lyon on a pitch that promised turn and bounce as early as the 40th over on Day 1. His first ball spun viciously back into Root almost knocking over his off-stump, and that delivery felt like a sign of things to come from the South Australian. 

A few overs later, he trapped Burns plumb in front of the stumps, but to his dismay, didn’t review the decision after the on-field umpire ruled it not out. The 31-year-old fizzled out after that very delivery, and everything that followed lacked control, consistency and the extra bite, despite the pitch offering more than enough for spinners.

Lyon, who is known for constantly probing the batsmen with his impeccable line and lengths, almost uncharacteristically kept pitching the odd-ball short, giving away the English batsmen a bad ball to put away almost once every eight balls. He ended the day wicketless with an economy rate almost close to three, but most importantly, his lacklustre spell meant that it gave less leeway for the pacers to be aggressive, as there was no pressure being built from one end.

Having said that, the offie’s record speaks for himself, and many a time in the past he has come up with an inauspicious spell or two, only to follow it up with a breathtaking spell of bowling to knock the opposition over. Despite his no-show today, both England and Australia would be well aware of the threat Lyon posseses, and make no mistake, he will still have a crucial part to play as the rest of the contest unfolds.